On March 3, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the World Report on Hearing – an opportunity for civil society to unite globally to advocate for “hearing care for all.” Hearing is critical across the lifespan – a necessary part of normal childhood development, productivity and retention in the workplace, and successful aging. The recent Lancet Commission for Dementia demonstrates that hearing loss in mid-life is the single biggest potentially modifiable risk factor associated with dementia in later life (Livingstone et al., 2020). Nonetheless, hearing loss is often overlooked within primary health and is lacking or given a low priority in policy and public health agendas.
While universal newborn hearing screening programs have been implemented in many settings, adult hearing health remains poorly addressed globally. Despite evidence that early and effective intervention is necessary to achieve lifelong hearing health, a universal and globally implementable solution for adults has not yet been developed. This presentation discusses the results of an Expert Delphi study that informed the development of WHO guidance for developing adult hearing screening programs.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the effects of hearing loss in older adults’ mental and physical health and general well-being.
- Recognise key barriers and enablers to accessing hearing healthcare for older adults.
- Understand the recommended criteria for establishing a hearing healthcare program from international experts in hearing health.
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